Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 5–8 ft tall and blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Oklahoma · Zones 6–8
Drought-Tolerant Native Plants in Oklahoma
Deep-rooted native plants that shrug off heat and dry spells and rarely need watering once they are established. Oklahoma sits in a landscape of Cross Timbers & mixedgrass prairie, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its continental, hot summers character. The list below — led by Maximilian Sunflower and Prairie Smoke — is filtered to species genuinely native to Oklahoma and the wider flora of the Great Plains and hardy through zones 6–8. Drought-tough natives earn their reputation with deep roots, so the secret is patience: water them through the first season while those roots reach down, then taper off and let them fend for themselves. Plant in fall or early spring, give them sharp drainage and full sun, and resist the urge to coddle — overwatering kills more of these than any heat wave.
The plants
41 native species for Oklahoma
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants — 6–16 in tall, and flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining sand and rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 1.5–2.5 ft tall and blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot; it stands 1–2 ft tall and blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
A water-wise pick for xeriscapes — holding up in dry clay where other perennials wilt, reaching 2–3 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1.5–3 ft tall, and blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants, reaching 2–5 ft tall and it blooms May through Oct.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Drought-tough once established — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 1.5–2.5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle — 6–12 in tall, and flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle — 1.5–3 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Deep-rooted and dry-adapted — rooting into sharp-drained rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells, reaching 2–4 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — tough enough for hard, dry clay that bakes in summer, reaching 25–50 ft tall and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — thriving in the lean, fast-draining rocky soil that defeats thirstier plants; it stands 2–4 ft tall and blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 2–4 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Drought-tough once established — rooting into sharp-drained sand and rocky soil and shrugging off dry spells; it stands 2–4 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle — 4–7 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — happiest in poor, gritty sand and rocky soil where richer plants rot — 1–2.5 ft tall, and blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 2–3 ft tall and flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle; it stands 1.5–2 ft tall and blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Drought-tough once established — tough enough for hard, dry clay that bakes in summer — 5–9 ft tall, and flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Unfazed by drought once its roots are down — right at home in dry sand and rocky ground where most perennials struggle, reaching 2–6 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Built for heat and dry spells — right at home in dry sand ground where most perennials struggle — 3–5 ft tall, and flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
17 more also qualify: Virginia Creeper, Rattlesnake Master, New Jersey Tea, Showy Milkweed, Purple Prairie Clover, Creeping Phlox, Ninebark, Stiff Goldenrod, Sideoats Grama, Blue Grama, Wild Lupine, Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge, Switchgrass, Indian Grass, Prairie Dropseed.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Oklahoma
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.